In Eyjafjallajökull’s Shadow: Jubilate! Chamber Choir

The ominous title of this concert, using the name of that notoriously unpronounceable Icelandic giant, in no way prepared me for the joyous hour of music that Jubilate had in store. The choral folk music was not only moving and melancholy, but also funny and at times nonsensical, with a ‘speckled hen’ and Mr ‘John Brown’ playing important roles in the quotidian yet day-dreamy lyrics that are characteristic of folk music the world over.

Not only was it the soulful singing arrangements that captivated: Tristan Mitchard broke up the song with a beautiful triple-time piano interlude, playing Isaac Albéniz’s ‘Castilla Movement 7 from Suite Espagnole, Op.47’. The concert ended with a compromise between instrument and voice, a hummed version of ‘Danny Boy’, the ‘Irish Tune from County Derry’ by Percy Grainger. The piece was almost meditative after such an exercise of emotions and styles.

Although a lover of folk music, I had never heard choral arrangements of folksongs before. Jubilate’s inspiring concert captured the raw, humane magic of folk music and let it soar to lofty heights on choral music’s majestic back. I can only hope that Simon Whalley and the Jubilate choir decide to put this concert on again in the future so more people can experience it!

Nina Brown (DI Reviewer), 20/06/10

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